New to Nursing : Professional Developmenthttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/tags/Professional+Development/default.aspxTags: Professional DevelopmentenCommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Debug Build: 0.0)The Language of Nursinghttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2014/04/07/the-language-of-nursing.aspxMon, 07 Apr 2014 12:08:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:86145Mia Ross0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/86145.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=86145<p style="margin:0px;font-size:12px;font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px;">As a nurse, I’ve grown accustomed to asking the difficult questions.&nbsp; It wasn’t always easy.&nbsp; When I first began my career, I thought my well-honed social skills would be enough for me to connect with patients.&nbsp; I thought my charming smile and eloquent style would be the perfect combination to induce patient compliance and reverence.&nbsp; It didn’t take me long to realize that those beliefs were a fallacy and that I had (and have) much more work to do in the communication department.</span></p>
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<p style="margin:0px;font-size:12px;font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px;">In my early years, I struggled with delving out of my conversational comfort zone.&nbsp; I stammered when topics like abuse, illicit drug use, and sexuality arose.&nbsp; I would catch myself starring at the floor, hands shaking, afraid of exposing my ignorance.&nbsp; I knew that these reactions weren’t just and when I returned home after a shift I’d feel ashamed.&nbsp; Why did it hurt so badly?</span></p>
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<p style="margin:0px;font-size:12px;font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px;">It’s taken years for me to realize that this is, in fact, because the language of nursing is an integral part of the profession.&nbsp; Healing is impossible with a closed heart and narrow mind.&nbsp; I have found many, many times that illness has less to do with an isolated, acute incidence and more to do with a chronic build-up of some emotional or habitual burden.&nbsp; The inability to ask the difficult questions will never yield the root of the problem.&nbsp; In fact, it may only burrow it more deeply.</span></p>
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<p style="margin:0px;font-size:12px;font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px;">I have learned to be poised and confident when I ask a patient absolutely anything that may help us find a way to wellness.&nbsp; It’s a work in progress.&nbsp; The language of nursing may be a lifelong course.&nbsp; All I know is that if we don’t hold the ability to look past our own judgements and biases and dig deep, patients will suffer.&nbsp; We may be the only opportunity these people have to divulge the truth behind their ailments.&nbsp; If we can’t ask the difficult questions than who will?&nbsp;</span></p><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=86145" width="1" height="1">New Grad/New to NursingNursing StudentPatient CarePersonal ReflectionProfessional DevelopmentIt's Not Personalhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2014/02/26/social-intuitions.aspxWed, 26 Feb 2014 12:53:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:85450Mia Ross0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/85450.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=85450<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;">I just listened to a fascinating talk at Edge.org regarding social intuitions. &nbsp;The ultimate conclusion: &nbsp;our social reactions, especially in&nbsp;difficult situations,&nbsp;are not well constructed. As I always do, I tried to connect this idea with nursing and was surprised to find that, in fact, it seems to be extremely relevant. &nbsp;As we all know, healthcare is experiencing tumultuous times. &nbsp;People are frustrated. &nbsp;Unfortunately, there are many times when this frustration is transferred to nurses. In situations like these, it's important to remember the fault in our social intuitions.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;">When a patient appears mean or angry, I am apt to internalize and personalize harsh words.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp; </SPAN>This, in fact, is an egregious error. &nbsp;My reaction presumes that the patient was intentionally trying to be hurtful towards me. &nbsp;This intentionality is natural, but not productive. &nbsp;This anger is really directed not towards any one person, but instead at our fragmented healthcare system. &nbsp;I have been working on suppressing that innate intentionality reaction.</SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;">Empathy is a great tool in situations like this: &nbsp;&nbsp;It is crucial that nurses learn to look past the words of an angry patient to the&nbsp;deeper&nbsp;sentiment beneath. &nbsp;This is much easier said than done. &nbsp;We all have different ways, different levels of expressing ourselves. &nbsp;It is the art of nursing&nbsp;to learn how to&nbsp;decipher the infinite number of communication codes that patients use.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp; </SPAN>Learn to avoid internalizing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:yes;">&nbsp; </SPAN>Use that saved energy to dig deeper&nbsp;into patient concerns,&nbsp;grow into a&nbsp;better listener and blossom as a nurse. </SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;"><o:p></o:p></SPAN>&nbsp;</P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY:'Arial','sans-serif';FONT-SIZE:11pt;">&nbsp;Visit <A title=here href="http://community.advanceweb.com/controlpanel/blogs/www.edge.org" target=_blank><FONT color=#0000ff>http://www.edge.org</FONT></A> and view David Pizzaro's talk on social intuitions for more information.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=85450" width="1" height="1">New Grad/New to NursingCurrent EventsNursing StudentPatient CareProfessional DevelopmentStress...Still?http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2013/01/09/stress-still.aspxWed, 09 Jan 2013 20:12:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:77535Alexandra Cosan0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/77535.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=77535<p>Only recently, as I have begun my journey into marriage, and "I" has steadily become a "we" in all aspects of life, have I truly realized how stressful the profession of nursing can be. What I mean is that working on a surgical/medical oncology floor, as anyone can imagine, can be stressful both physically and emotionally. It can be stressful because you physically never stop moving for twelve hours or because your forty year old patient just received news that she now has bone mets. I think the transition of our unit and the new population of oncology patients certainly enhances the emotional stress. </p><p>However, the important part about that is how to manage it. The job is always going to be stressful. Somehow after almost two years I think I lost site of some of my stress management skills, as I have become a bit more senior on my floor and taken over more responsibility. I suppose it seems counter intuitive, but I find myself more overwhelmed at times.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;Although I recognize the importance of not letting your personal life overlap into your professional life, I also do not want the reverse effect. Sometimes it's very difficult to unwind after a stressful day on the floor especially knowing the following day is more of the same. I'm sure many experienced nurses out there can relate exactly to this and as I enjoy my time being engaged and planning a wedding, I'm allowing that to be my beacon on stressful days. My fiance is always what I look forward to on a stressful day and I am so thankful for that.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>It's almost as if I need to go back to the basics and my original motto of as soon as I walk out of the door, I need to leave work at work. And when it's overwhelming at work, a deep breath always provides some relief.</p><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=77535" width="1" height="1">Professional DevelopmentWork-Life BalancePersonal Time Managementhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2012/06/19/personal-time-management.aspxTue, 19 Jun 2012 04:29:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:72609Alexandra Cosan0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/72609.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=72609<P>Now that I am back in school pursuing a master's in science degree in an adult health nurse practitioner program, I find myself having to manage my time off from work very differently. I used to be able to fill my days off the floor with house chores, errands, spending time with family and friends-- I now have&nbsp;to seriously reevaluate that.</P>
<P>Although I am only taking one course currently, I chose to take advanced pathophysiology, one of the more difficult courses in the program while still maintaining my 40 hour per week work status. The work required for the course is extensive so I spend much of my time off studying and preparing for class. I have to take into consideration when I am working night shift versus day shift so that I enable myself to sleep enough, but still study--another thing I did not have to consider before.</P>
<P>The positive side is that it is different than my undergraduate experience because I can hone in on the content of only one course, which I am finding to be very helpful. It's also helpful to be able to correlate my course content with my day/night work experiences and my patient interactions. I am often able to think about my course content, while at work.</P>
<P>With only a few weeks down, I am definitely experiencing stress, but I know it will be worth it for the long term gain and pursuit of my goals. Hopefully, each day and week I will improve on managing my time on days off by finding a balance between sleep, fun and regular day to day things that need to be completed.</P><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=72609" width="1" height="1">Personal ReflectionProfessional DevelopmentTaking the Next Step...Already?http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2012/01/24/taking-the-next-step-already.aspxTue, 24 Jan 2012 17:54:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:68374Alexandra Cosan0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/68374.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=68374<p>In my undergraduate nursing program it was essentially ingrained in the student body that we should all pursue an advanced degree at some point in our careers and sooner rather than later. Last year at this time all of this was far off my radar. All I wanted was to be gainfully employed. I knew that at some point I would want to pursue an advanced degree but I knew neither of in what area I wanted that degree as well as when I would want to do it. </p><p>Needless to say, that has changed. After only six months in my job I am pretty sure I am ready to begin taking classes toward a nurse practitioner degree. In what area and why now, you ask? Well, in adult health and not acute care, because I see myself working in an outpatient cardiology clinic or lung clinic both of which I feel would be appropriate branches from the type of acute floor I am on currently. I do not want to be in the hospital setting forever, but I am thoroughly enjoying what I am doing right now and I believe it is the best possible environment to establish strong foundations in various clinical areas.</p><p>As far as why now...now because I am ready to be back in the class room. I am ready to start learning again. I want to take it slow, one class per semester, but I know I need to start now before the external aspects of life begin to take more control.&nbsp;</p><p>I absolutely do not want to be the type of NP in which it is vividly apparent that he or she did not spend enough time on the floor, did not gain enough experience as an RN and does not have exceptionally strong skills as a foundation. That is why I am taking it slow and going to continue working while I go to school. &nbsp;Also as I mentioned, I am very happy with what I am doing right now on my unit. I love the type of patients we have and I love the people I work with. I am not ready to give that up yet especially while I still have the energy to be doing it.</p><p>The next step is both exciting and scary. I am going to be working full time and going to school all while trying to maintain a personal life. I know there are so many people out there that have done it and are doing it now, so I know I can be successful too. Until then...let the applications roll.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=68374" width="1" height="1">Professional DevelopmentWork-Life BalanceDocumentation: My New-Nurse Challengehttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2011/10/25/documentation-my-new-nurse-challenge.aspxTue, 25 Oct 2011 20:31:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:65574Alexandra Cosan0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/65574.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=65574<p>To say that documentation is the only challenge I face as a new grad in nursing would be false, however it is absolutely one I am I struggling with on a daily basis. I suppose I also find it a bit surprising that I would be having difficulty with this as I was only taught one method of documentation which is the online type of charting and never had to transition from paper to the computer. I have only been taught one way thus I have one major barrier eliminated.</p><p>&nbsp;So what is my problem? My problem is that I am so focused on the patient care, going from one patient to another, completing a thorough assessment, checking and administering medications, that I am finding it very difficult to stop for ten minutes and document. I always finish my documentation by the end of the day, but completing in a timely matter is often such a challenge for me.</p><p>&nbsp;In addition to the documentation of the assessment, there is also the documentation of everything else you have done with the patient in the course of a shift and documenting any changes, etc. I recognize how integral this is. Proper documentation is crucial, especially if something happens to the patient and the documentation is looked back upon or heaven forbid any sort of legal action is taken. This is something I know I have to improve on it is simply taking me more time than I want it to.</p><p>Luckily, I know that I am not the only one struggling with this. Every nurse struggles with documenting everything they do in a shift especially with the transition from paper to computer, but I feel I have no excuse because I did not know the previous method. My excuse is simply that I am trying to find my groove in time management which is incredibly difficult. With each day that I become more efficient, I find I am able to improve my documentation habits a step at a time so I know I will get there eventually.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=65574" width="1" height="1">New Grad/New to NursingProfessional Development On My Ownhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/archive/2011/10/01/on-my-own.aspxSat, 01 Oct 2011 15:05:00 GMT06d5312c-37b9-406e-be84-460d8d21f4fc:64827Alexandra Cosan0http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/comments/64827.aspxhttp://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_19/commentrss.aspx?PostID=64827<p>As of Sunday, I am officially off of orientation! I thought
college flew by-these twelve weeks went by at mach speed. It is remarkable to recall how I felt approaching the floor on the first day versus how I feel now about to really by on my own as an RN.</p>Throughout my orientation I rotated between two preceptors which although difficult at times, was ultimately very beneficial.&nbsp;By learning from two very different nurses I was able to
decipher the traits/habits I want for myself and decide how I want to be as a
nurse versus only having one preceptor and simply applying all of his or her
nursing styles. It also helped having two different people providing constructive criticism because at the end of the day that is really what I needed and continue to need at times even.<p>My fears as I embark on my own are that there are still so
many unknowns. There are many skills I have yet to master, despite having
attempted most. There are various situations I haven't encountered that I am
not sure how I will when I do and there is plain and simple knowledge I have
yet to obtain. I am confident all of this will come with experience.</p>
<p>For now I feel very lucky to be surrounded by a team of very
supportive nurses. Throughout the day everyone is always asking me if I need
help with anything, but they are not just asking me that they ask each other
that on a regular basis. It is comforting to know I am supported by my team on
my floor and that is why I know I will be okay on my own.&nbsp;</p><img src="http://community.advanceweb.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=64827" width="1" height="1">New Grad/New to NursingProfessional Development